CHAINED BY FIRE

e's

caramel skin warm, 4C afro loose, almond light brown eyes nervous. I needed something of my own, beyond the villa's safety. "Nonno," I said, vo

is eyes. "Cece, we take c

ut in Birmingham, I worked, paid bills, kept going. I want to feel like me a

strong. Go try the café, but take Vincent

ts pastel walls and coffee hum welcoming. Elena, the manager, hired me after a qu

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rls bounced as she worked on a peony canvas in her studio. I chopped vegetables for dinner, afro s

k I missed your bodyguard out there." Her tease was light, nodding toward

not interested. He probably sees me as weak, fragile.

that's nonsense. Matteo's into you. Those looks

ot the job at La Dolce Vita. Start next week. I'm so

filling the kitchen until Adrian walked in, suit rumpled, glasses fogging from running Bla

family, Cece. Our sister, Anastasia's auntie." Tears welled, my fragile heart fu

ng I'd cooked, I should eat. Over pasta, she told Adrian about my job, her pride c

ngs myself, Adrian. In Birmingham, I worked,

too." I nodded, grateful. Adrian's tone shifted, tired. "Work's tough. Matteo's in

y eyes, his world, it was dangerous, a place I didn't be

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then slipped into pajamas, afro tied back. Downstairs, I brewed chamomile tea for Nonno and m

smile shy. We talked, his Rebecca stories calming me, until I yawned, heading to bed. My sketchbook

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eo's

g Luca, my consigliere, and Enzo, my underboss. My cousin's rebellion, missing shipments, gang fights, dead men, lost millions, was a knife in my empire's back. My jaw

th a Naples crew. They're hitting our routes, st

trike Naples, boss. Tonight

oice at the villa, her glowy skin in the firelight, her expressive eyes hiding pain from Lily's overdose, Marco's drugs. In this chaos, ev

irls she'd seen, it pissed me off, a filth I'd erase for her. The meeting dragged, plans set, but Cece stayed on my mind,